The Salary Calculator

There are no two ways about it, for most people, January is one of the hardest months of the year, with February following close behind. In the months following Christmas, people are often feeling tired, tight on money and just generally a bit dismal. However, a good way to banish the winter blues is to find something to look forward to, such as a little (or big) getaway.

At The Salary Calculator, we know that it can be challenging to find a good deal when it comes to booking a holiday – you don’t want it to cost you an arm and a leg. So, below, we’ll walk you through the following:

• Our top holiday saving and low-cost holiday tips
• Some of the firms offering low-deposit options for holidays
• Some good holiday deals and places to compare deals
• Tips for avoiding holiday scams

Holiday saving & low-cost tips

Thinking about the total cost of a holiday can be a bit overwhelming, so you might feel tempted just to wing it and hope for the best. However, to ensure that everything goes to plan, it’s best to break down everything that you’re likely to need and make sure you set aside enough money so that you can enjoy your holiday to the fullest.

While you may have thought of the basics, such as accommodation and travel costs, make sure to also include the following in your list:

• Travel insurance – to cover you for any mishaps or lost luggage,
• Travel money and any currency exchanges you may have to sort out,
• Toiletries for your trip, including sun cream, so your holiday is not ruined by singed skin,
• Any new holiday clothes or swimwear you might be required to purchase,
• Whether you’ll need to hire a car once you’ve at your destination – don’t forget about car insurance too,
• Whether you’ll want to travel in and around the place you’re visiting and how much this is likely to cost,
• Entertainment costs,
• Food and drink costs – whether you’re planning on buying it at the supermarket or eating out.

Once you’ve identified the key areas you’ll be saving for, there are a number of ways you can then proceed with your savings mission, whether that’s in little ways, like putting your spare change in a jar each week or opening up a savings account. Why not use a savings or budget calculator, too, to make things even more straightforward for yourself?

Savings can also be made in other ways, for example, by booking your flights in advance. According to Expedia, international flights booked four or more months in advance end up saving people around 20% off their fights when compared with those booked closer to the flight, like two months prior. The same goes for train tickets if you arrange a getaway a little closer to home. Likewise, when flying with a group of friends or family, you might be tempted to pay extra to get a seat next to your group, however according to research by MSE, all airlines, aside from Ryanair, always aim to allocate group seats together – this can be further guaranteed by checking in to the airport as soon as possible.

Likewise, The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the aviation regulator, says airlines should “aim to sit parents close to children” – if this isn’t possible, they should not be separated by more than one aisle or more than one seat row.”

Firms offering small deposit options

In the months following Christmas, there is always an influx of holiday bargains to be had, and there is a wide range of companies offering small deposit options:

• EasyJet’ offers holidays with a £60pp deposit, a 23kg luggage allowance and an option to pay in instalments.
• First Choice offers a low deposit scheme to help those looking to go on holiday spread the cost of their getaway even if they don’t have the money at the time of booking. Its offerings start as low as £60pp.
• TUI also offers low deposit holidays with prices starting at £50pp.
• Jet2holidays offers customers the ability to pay a £60pp deposit to secure their holiday and then pay the balance ten weeks before they jet off.

Finding good holiday deals

The best way to find the perfect holiday deal for you is by first checking out comparison sites. Skyscanner is a good site to visit if you’re looking to find the cheapest airline flights. Kayak is similarly a good starting point for finding both flights and hotels. Likewise, it’s always work checking out TravelSupermarket.

If you’re looking for sites that offer legitimate flash sales, check out Holiday Pirates or Travelzoo. However, you’ll also likely find good deals if you plan ahead, as many places offer early booking codes or discounts.

Likewise, who says that a holiday has to be abroad? These days, more and more people are opting for a staycation rather than travelling internationally. There are a number of companies offering affordable getaways in the UK, including:

• My Seaside Luxury, which offers a range of affordable sea-view apartments
• UniversityRooms.com allows you to stay in student accommodation, in some cases, for as little as £90 for en suite doubles, for those looking for a budget trip in a university town like Oxford or Cambridge.
• Malmaison similarly has hotels in 16 UK cities, and offers a £75 a night stay across 13 of these locations.

Watch out for holiday scams

Lots of people are keen to get away at this time of year and, in the cost of living crisis, are trying as hard as they can to identify the best deals. Statistics show that 25% feel they’ll be unable to afford a holiday without a good deal. Of course, when people are desperate for good deals, they’ll be people who take advantage of that, and charities are warning that holiday scams are on the rise.

A recent poll by Opinium found that one in ten people would book a holiday through an unknown provider if it meant paying less. Considering these statistics, it’s important to stress that when booking a holiday, you make sure that the company is legitimate and verified. The best tip here is to go with your gut, if you feel like something feels dodgy, for example, the links look suspicious, or the deal feels ‘too good,’ trust your instincts. Likewise, paying with a credit card can add another layer of security.

Tony Neate, CEO at Get Safe Online, outlines: “As the cost of living rises, we want to help protect everyone’s hard-earned cash and urge people to stay alert when it comes to booking a holiday. Trust your instincts and remember: if a deal looks too good to be true, then it probably is.”